The Stripper's Guide blog discusses the history of the American newspaper comic strip.

Monday, April 10, 2017

Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Bernard Dibble

Alfred Bernard Joseph Dibble was born in Haddonfield, New Jersey, on August 26, 1899. The New Jersey, Births and Christenings Index, at Ancestry.com, recorded the name as Alfred B. Dibble. Bernard Joseph Dibble was the name on the World War I draft card.

The quartet was recorded in the 1910 census in Woodbury, New Jersey. Dibble’s father was a railroad stenographer.

On September 12, 1918, Dibble signed his World War I draft card. He lived with his parents in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at 202 South DeKalb Street. Dibble was a clerk, with the West Jersey Sea Shore Railroad Company. The description of Dibble was medium height and build with hazel eyes and brown hair.

Information regarding Dibble’s education, art training and whereabouts in the 1920 census have not been found. Who’s Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999 said Dibble was self-taught. From 1920 to 1923, Camden, New Jersey city directories listed Dibble as a clerk who resided at 726 North 4th.

Apparently, Dibble moved to Manhattan, New York City in the mid-1920s. American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Dibble created the strip, Danny Dingle, which ran from July 29, 1924 to 1938. The topper was called Dub-Dabs.

The death of Dibble’s father was reported in The New York Times, February 12, 1928, and said in part:

Theodore S. Dibble, for more than thirty years with the freight traffic department of the Pennsylvania Railroad, died here Friday night, after an illness of many months. He lived recently with his son, Bernard Dibble, a newspaper cartoonist, at 214 Riverside Drive, although his home and office had been for years in Camden, N.J. He was 53 years of age.

Dibble’s artistic cousin, Tom Dibble Jr., died in a car accident March 2, 1929. Tom produced the strip Who’s Zoo. Anna Dibble left a comment at the Stripper’s Guide about the family relationships.

Bernard Dibble was my husband's father.Tom Dibble, Jr. was Bernard Dibble's first cousin.Bernard Dibble was the son of Theodore Savage Dibble.Tom Dibble, Jr. was the son of Thomas Reilly Dibble.Theodore Savage Dibble & Thomas Reilly Dibble were twin brothers. Their father Theodore Hoyt Dibble was a Civil War hero.

According to the 1930 census, newspaper cartoonist Dibble married Barbara when he was 28 years old. They lived in Manhattan, New York City at 610 Riverside Drive. During the 1930s, American Newspaper Comics said Dibble drew Hawkshaw the Detective, Captain and the Kids, Cynical Susie, and Looy Dot Dope.

Information in the 1940 census said Dibble was a 1935 resident of Cresskill, New Jersey. Dibble’s 1940 address was 3120 Broadway in Manhattan. The self-employed cartoonist was married to Eleanor and had two sons, Michael and Theodore.

American Newspaper Comics said Dibble produced Jonesy in the mid-1940s, and ghosted Arnie Mossler’s The Young Idea. According to Alberto Becattini, Dibble ghosted Ernie Bushmiller’s Nancy in the 1950s. Dibble’s comic book work is noted here.

My name is Allan Holtz. I am a comic strip historian, and author of "American Newspaper Comics: An Encyclopedic Reference Guide." This blog is my outlet for all manner of interesting, oddball and rare material related to comic strip history. It is also a forum where others interested in comic strip history are encouraged to participate through the comments, or even by contributing articles.
Have some information about a strip or cartoonist you'd like to share? I'd love to hear from you! You can post a comment on any post (click on 'Post a Comment' at the end of any post), or email me (see below).
Note: All images on this blog are thumbnails - click on the images to see full size readable versions. Some browsers may require you to click on the image a second time to see the image at absolute full size (not reduced to fit your screen).

Legalities

All editorial matter on this blog is copyright 2005-16 Allan Holtz, except editorial matter in posts signed by Alex Jay, and may not
be reproduced without permission. All Rights Reserved.
All images of comic strip art are copyright by their respective copyright holders
except those in public domain. If you are the copyright holder of an image
displayed on this blog and would like a specific copyright displayed, or believe
the display transcends fair use, please contact me.